Insulating connector covers



y 1959 H. N. EKVALL ETAL I 2,888,509

\ INSULATING CONNECTOR COVERS Filed May 27, 1955 INVENTORS HAROLD N. EKVALL JOHN M. WARNER, 8r ARCHIBALD T. FLOWER United States Patent INSULATING CONNECTOR COVERS Harold N. Ekvall and John M. Warner, Philadelphia, and Archibald T. Flower, Glenside, Pa.

Application May 27, 1955, Serial No. 511,671

1 Claim. (Cl. 174-5) This invention relates to insulating connector covers and more particularly to a portable cover which may be easily and readily applied to conductor wires for covering exposed joints to protect the linemen when working on high voltage lines.

A further object of the invention resides in providing a connector cover composed of separable sections constructed of resilient plastic material, each section having yieldable means for detachably connecting the section to a conductor wire, with the sections in telescoping engagement to completely cover and protect the exposed joint.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a connector cover of the character described which is simple and durable in construction, efficient in use and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a top plane view of the cover applied to a conductor wire,

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the upper section of the cover, and,

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the lower section.

Referring to the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown the insulating connector cover is indicated, generally, at 5 and consists of an upper section 6 and lower section 7. The upper and lower sections are substantially dome-shape with their side walls 8 bent slightly inwardly to form angular shoulders 9 surrounding the inner wall. The edge of the side wall 8 of each section is provided with a series of keyhole shaped slots 10 which extend from the edge to a point adjacent the shoulder 9, two of the slots being disposed diametrically opposite to each other and another being disposed at an equi-distance to the opposed slots. The open end of the lower section 7 is of less diameter than the open end of the upper section 6 to allow the open end of the lower section to telescopically fit within the open end of the upper section to form a cover of substantially spheroid shape. The interfitting connection between the upper and lower sections is such that when the upper and lower sections are fitted together the circular portion of the slots 10 in both sections are in register. The narrow end portion 11 of the slots has a width less than the diameter of the conductor wires 15 and 16 joined together at 14, and in order that the wires may pass through the narrow end portion into the circular portion of the slot, the sec tions of the cover are constructed of a resilient plastic insulating material so that under pressure the narrow end of the slot will spread to allow the conductor wires to pass into the circular or wider end of the slot. When fitted together the side wall of the upper section flares 2,888,509 Patented May 26, 1959 outwardly from the side wall of the lower section and acts as a shield to divert rain and snow away from the joint between the sections. The bottom of the lower section has a central opening 12 for draining any water that might enter the cover.

In use, the lower section 7 is applied to the conductor wires by engaging the main wire 15 in the opposed slots 10 of the section 7 with the lateral branch wire 16 engaged in the other slot. Owing to the resiliency of the material of which the section is made it can be readily snapped into engagement with the conductor wires by applying upward pressure on the lower section and is thereby securely suspended from the wires. To apply the upper section 6 it is placed over the upper end of the lower section with the conductor wires in alinement with the slots 10 and by applying downward pressure to the upper section the narrow ends of the slots 10 are spread to allow the conductor wires to pass through the narrow ends into the circular or larger end of the slots thus joining the upper and lower sections together and completely covering the joint 14 formed between the wires 15 and 16. When the upper and lower sections are joined the upper edge of the lower section abuts against the shoulder 9 of the upper section and the side wall of the upper section flares outwardly from the wall of the lower section so as to exclude the entrance of rain or snow into the cover. The construction of the cover is such it is readily portable and may be easily applied or removed from the conductor wires and is highly desirable for use in protecting linesmen when working on high voltage conductor lines. When not in use the lower section of the cover may be nested in the upper section for convenience in storing or in carrying the cover from place to place. In some instances only one section of the cover may be used to protect the joint of a conductor wire but for complete protection the use of both sections is preferred.

It is to be understood the form of invention herein shown and described is a preferred example of the same and certain changes in the shape, size and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

A connector cover for electrical conductor wires comprising a pair of dome shaped members formed of yieldable material, the lower portion of the walls of said members being angularly bent inwardly to form an internal annular shoulder, said members being disposed with the open ends in interfitting sliding engagement and limited in their movement by said annular shoulders, with the wall of the outer member in spaced relation to the wall of the inner member, the angularly bent portions of the walls of said members having a series of alined keyhole shaped slots opening through the lower edge of the walls of said members, with the narrow portion of the slots being of less width than the diameter of the conductor wires to be received therein and yieldable to admit the wires into the slots when said members are fitted together.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,324,791 McLonghlin et al July 20, 1943 2,408,253 Diebold Sept. 24, 1946 2,430,703 Bowen Nov. ll, 1947 2,636,065 Fiske Apr. 21, 1953 2,670,870 Fleischer Mar. 2, 1954 2,704,302 Budd Mar. 15, 1955 FORElGN PATENTS 255,982 Great Britain Aug. 5, 1926 

